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As part of a continued effort to increase oversight over digital platforms, Russian regulators have restricted access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Ban

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that these services were employed to plan and execute acts of terrorism on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and commit fraud as well as various crimes against citizens.

Roskomnadzor stated it initiated the block targeting Snapchat on October 10, although the decision was only made public later.

Broader Campaign of Internet Control

These latest moves follow previous blocks against popular services including YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of censorship intensified following the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued calculated and multi-pronged efforts to rein in the internet. Actions have involved:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Banning online services that refuse to cooperate with state demands.
• Advancing technology to observe and control internet traffic.

Other Instances of Crackdowns

Access to YouTube was slowed last year in a case of targeted interference by officials. Russian officials attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its infrastructure in Russia.

In recent months, authorities tightened online access with widespread disruptions of mobile internet connections. Officials insisted this was required to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts contended an additional move to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Targeting Messaging Platforms

Regulators has also acted against popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were blocked in 2024. This year, authorities banned voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the measure by claiming the two apps were being involved in crime.

Simultaneously, the state have championed a so-called "domestic" messenger app called Max. Critics see it as a possible surveillance tool. The app explicitly states it will provide user information with the government when asked, and experts note it lacks full encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

According to lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework views any service where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This classification requires that platforms have an account with Roskomnadzor and allow Russia's security service with access to communications. Services failing to meet these demands are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev estimated that potentially many millions of Russians had been turning to FaceTime, particularly after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "predictable" and stated that other platforms failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – it is inevitable."

Gaming Sites Also Affected

As another development, the government reported it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at safeguarding minors from inappropriate material. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest game platform in Russia recently, with nearly eight million monthly users.

Although it remains possible to circumvent some of these restrictions by utilizing VPN services, such tools are frequently targeted by officials as well.